Long ago, when Rudy Giuliani first became mayor of then crime-ridden New York City, he announced a plan under which there would be no tolerance of violations of the law, even for small violations like jumping the turnstiles in subway stations or playing music on the street too loudly. (Remember boom boxes?) This policy turned out to be an amazing way to reduce crime. People jumping turnstiles began to be stopped by police, and the men in blue quickly discovered that a high percentage of those involved were also wanted for other crimes. All sorts of people for whom arrest warrants had been issued were taken in (and gotten off the streets). Crime was reduced. At the time, the liberals in New York City complained that Giuliani was running "police state tactics". It was unfair to arrest people for minor crimes like jumping a turnstile, or so they told us. Indeed, since many of those who jumped the turnstiles were minorities, arresting them was also "racist" according to the left. Despite the protest from the left, the policy stayed in place for twenty years through the mayoral terms of Giuliani and his successor Mike Bloomberg.
Then came the current mayor, far left Bill De Blasio. He had no interest in enforcing the unfair police state tactics by arresting people who jumped the turnstile. Indeed, he convinced the local DA in Manhattan and Brooklyn to stop prosecuting those crimes. Now, turnstile jumpers only get tickets much like parking tickets. No one gets arrested. Fairness, liberal style, has been restored to the New York City subways.
That change was put in place about a year ago. Now the results are in. In one year, fare collections are down by 6% and the decline in total revenue is accelerating. There aren't any fewer people in New York City; in fact, the number is up. There aren't any fewer jobs for people to commute to; again, the number is up. Somehow, though, the total fare collections are in free fall. There's a good summary of all this by Seth Barron in the New York Post.
So what did De Blasio think would happen once it became known that there would be no penalty for sneaking on to the subway without paying? Is it so important to undermine the police and public order that liberals have to take steps that promote illegal behavior? To me, it's inexplicable and delusional.
Then came the current mayor, far left Bill De Blasio. He had no interest in enforcing the unfair police state tactics by arresting people who jumped the turnstile. Indeed, he convinced the local DA in Manhattan and Brooklyn to stop prosecuting those crimes. Now, turnstile jumpers only get tickets much like parking tickets. No one gets arrested. Fairness, liberal style, has been restored to the New York City subways.
That change was put in place about a year ago. Now the results are in. In one year, fare collections are down by 6% and the decline in total revenue is accelerating. There aren't any fewer people in New York City; in fact, the number is up. There aren't any fewer jobs for people to commute to; again, the number is up. Somehow, though, the total fare collections are in free fall. There's a good summary of all this by Seth Barron in the New York Post.
So what did De Blasio think would happen once it became known that there would be no penalty for sneaking on to the subway without paying? Is it so important to undermine the police and public order that liberals have to take steps that promote illegal behavior? To me, it's inexplicable and delusional.
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